Jimsonweed - Dratura Strimonium

Today's herb is Jimsonweed, also called devil's trumpet, Hell's bells, thorn apple and moon flower, from the genus Datura. It belongs to the Solanacease (nightshade) family. Its toxic ingredients include tropane alkaloids, including atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, and it is particularly dangerous because the amount needed for a high is nearly the same as the lethal over dose which greatly increases the chance of accidental fatal overdose. ​

There are times I simply must pause when I do herbal research. These are the kinds of things that have guided me to avoid deadly herbs for so long. I've been sharing information on haunting herbs for years and it has all been in fun, using only herbs found in the gardens of the white witches. But there can be a dark and serious side to herbal use. The lists of illness and most often death associated with this herb are readily available on the internet so I won't list them here.

That being said, I have been in awe of the gorgeous Jimsonweed for years and would not be anymore inclined to eat it than I would poison ivy. I can enjoy it at a distance and as with all the deadly herbs, I strongly advise you look but don't touch!

(O kill, killbut killin a goddess’ name!)Deadly poisonfor arrow tips& sacrificial victims’ hearts--you were also usedin love philters!The cynic laughs,knowing that loveis the first poison--the poisonthat takes the soul,the mind,& all the organsdown below.(O kill, killbut killin a goddess’ name!)Venus, Kali, the Great Motherthe God of the Witches--what does it matter?Love potion or poison,it is the same drinkthat brings oblivionin the end.Love-will, Sorcerer’s herb,Jimson weed,you were used by brothel keepersto seduce the innocent,& witches brewed youfor their flying ointments.The soldiers of Jamestownmade merry with your juice.It was a new countrybut the herbs were old.The poisons link usto antiquity--the poisons & the love philters.Down through the Ageswe are joined by vines;we wear garlandsof poisonous berrieslike jewels.Green as innocence,green as love of death,we bud, we flower, we fall--& ancient herbsgrowout of our blindeyes.

Henbane - Hyoscyamus niger

"Henbane is poisonous in all its parts and neither drying or boiling destroys the toxic principle."~ Mrs. Grieve, London Pharmacopoeia ​

The seeds are poisonous to chickens, giving Henbane its common name,. The Latin name, Hyoscyamus - from the Greek 'hous' meaning pig and kuamos meaning bean - has been interpreted as a reference to the noxious smell, but it could well be, as Erica Jong notes below, that the 'sickly flowers turn men into swine." Turning men into pigs must have been more common in the past than it is presently.. In addition to Henbane's special powers, changing men into hogs was also attributed to mandrake - check my 10-13-2017 post.

With the current misogyny in the U.S., it seems some men don't need any herbal assistance. Fortunately in my recent travels, this hasn't been a concern but I have no plans to move to D.C. or Hollywood so maybe my geographical location has spared me. Ha!

Henbane is not used often because it is so highly poisonous. As with some of the other members of the Solanaceae family, it contains the propane alkaloids and it best left alone..(Note: Non-poisonous tomatoes and potatoes are in the Solanaceae family.)

Simply smelling the herb can have derogatory effects. Legend states the dead who wander along the banks of the river Styx wear wreathes of henbane flowers to prevent them from remembering their previous lives, according to Greek mythology.

Scott Cunningham, herbalist extraordinaire, noted

​"Henbane, another poisonous plant largely ignored in herb magic todaydue to its toxicity, is still sometimes utilized as a love bringing herb in the following manner: to bring love, a man should gather henbane, naked, early in the morningwhile standing on one foot. Worn, it will bring love."

Once again, I am puzzled. This entire plant is poisonous, yet there are accounts of man gathering this vilely fragranced plant, unprotected by clothes, and then actually wearing it? (For several reasons, I hope they get dressed first!)

Cunningham also notes the herb can be burned to attract rain and this should be best done outdoors - they need to tell people this? - as the fumes are poisonous. He then notes that fern can be used as a substitute. Hopefully the fern cam be used in the love spell as well!

Once again I got sidetracked - easy to do with the versatile and many faceted herbs! In reference to Halloween, witches rubbed an ointment which included henbane and other herbs on the handles of their broom sticks to enable them to fly. And allegedly, there were evil witches - most aren't, you know - who used the herb to inflict convulsions, delirium and even death on their victims.

From the top down - ThymeLavenderSweet AnnieSageRosemary​

There are so many treasures from the garden waiting to be harvested. Today I made a swag from some of my favorites. This works with almost any herbs. Begin with the herbs with the longest stems - in this case the rosemary. Strip the leaves off of the stems that will be covered by the next layers of herbs. Then add the next longest and so on. End with the shortest branches.

The Nightshades

One of the challenges when studying herbs is the confusion that arrises from folk and common names. The nightshades are a perfect example. In this post we will look at two, Both are from the Solanaceae family, as were the previous Deadly Halloween Herbs, excluding Aconite.

The lesson from this is that it is critical to know the latin name when studying herbs. For that reason I'll list the latin name first, with the paintings, and additional folk names below. Also, please beware of what you find on the internet. I've seen sketches with black berries on the bittersweet night shade and I have never seen the plant or a photo of the plant with black berries. They can be green, yellow, orange or red, but I've never seen black.

Both of the herbs are poisonous and all parts should be avoided.. They have both been attributed to enabling witches to fly. "Bella Donna" means beautiful lady in Italian and at one time women were rumored to use the herb to enlarge their pupils so they would look more desirable. Sadly as with many herbs, the amount needed was almost the same as the lethal dose so there were accidental deaths as a result. I'll stick with eyeliner and mascara for my eye make up. If that's not good enough, the guy can take a hike! ​

Belladonna

When the Deadly Nightshade flowers,dreamy-eyed girlsopen their lidsfor their lovers;Maenads fall upon mendripping with dreams;& children diefrom the sweetestof inky fruits.

Belladonna,wine of the Bacchanals,you are indeed the witch’s berry,I look into your open eye & seeDionysian orgies,women in love with death,dying with the widest& brightest of eyes.Have you no shame at allAtropa belladonna?The other herbspretend to be angelic,but you freely playthe Devil’s part.Dwaleberry, Sorcerer’s cherry,Murderer’s berry--your sweetness burstson the tongue,the lungs relax,& death comesmerelyfrom refusingair.

Mandragora - Mandragora officinarum

​This year I'm featuring the Deadly Herbs of Halloween and Friday the 13th seems the ideal time to post. We'll begin with Mandrake, the root of Mandragora. Legend states that the plant sprung from the dripping blood and semen of men who were hanged at the gallows.

​Mandrake, translated as the dragon resembling man, (Atropa mandragora, Mandragora officinale) is one of the most powerful of the Halloween Herbs. The root, said to resemble the form of a human body, can grow to a length of three or four feet. It is most often associated with males (Man-drake, Mandragan, Mandragor, Mannkin), but other names include a feminine reference (Ladykins and Womandrake). And there are other folk names including Brain Thief, Wild Lemon, and Raccoon Berry. Do you see why I love herbs?

Another name is Herb of Circe, as it is thought to be the herb used in the brew made by the sorceress Circe (Kirke) to turn Odysseus's trespassing men into swine. Wow!

If that weren't enough, there are additional benefits! It can protect your home and assure affluence and abundance. Silver coins placed next to this handy root will double in amount over night. Even those who aren't known for our mathematical expertise can see the benefit!

Mandrake can be used to attract love if you hang the root on the headboard of your bed. Keep in mind, this is a three to four foot long hairy root that looks something like a person. I'm just wondering how I'd react if I woke up in the middle of the night and . . . .oh, never mind. Once true love is guaranteed it will ensure fertility and the scent ensures a peaceful night's sleep - at least until the baby arrives!

But there is a problem. Mandrake roots are rare and expensive, and, well they should be, considering the challenges involved with obtaining one. To ensure that the magic is intact, there are certain procedures that must be followed. You don't just go out with a shovel to your nearest mandrake patch and start digging.The root must be obtained on a moonless night, ideally yanked out just at the stroke of midnight.

There is another problem. The mandrake does not want to be removed from the ground. It shrieks in protest. The shrill screams seem to have a derogatory effect on all that hear them and drive them to insanity. So as you can imagine, people aren't lining up to be harvesters of the mandrake root.

There is a solution but Zippy, my Puggle, and I don't like it. "The safest way to secure a mandrake was to tie a dog to the plant on a moonless night. Plugging one's ears with beeswax and blowing a horn to drown out the shrieks, the dog was whipped at the stroke of midnight and the jumping animal pulled the screeching root from the ground and died."

Died. A dog, at least one or we know they wouldn't have given this example, died so that someone could tie a hairy root to their bedpost.

One more thing to keep in mind when considering the use of mandrake is that is is poisonous. It is a member of the Solanaceae family and the berries and roots contain anticholinergic alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

There is good news though! If you're looking for a substitute for your spell this Halloween, you can use the root of an ash, which might be even more difficult to dig up than the Mandrake. It is a tree, after all. The root of betony or may apples have also proved to be worthy alternatives. For an even more easily obtainable solution, apples are said to work just as well.

In addition to it's many attributes, Mandrake inspired poetry from the hauntingly talented Erica Jong. Enjoy. I'm on my way to tie an apple to my bedpost.

Aconite - Aconitum napellus

A thirty-three year old gardener, Nathan Greenaway, died of multiple organ failures after touching monkshood. If that doesn't convince you to keep your distance, there is no hope.

Wolf's bane is a member of the Ranunculus family, as is the seemingly innocent buttercup. But beware. All members of this family, over 500 varieties, are poisonous.

Aconite, from the Greek work akon, meaning dart or javelin, was used on the tips of arrows to kill wolves. Legend states that the arrows never missed their mark and death from the plant's poison was immediate. I can't help but wonder who gathered and prepared the arrows, as all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous even to the the touch.

Monkshood remind me of delphiniums - same family - and both are grown in gardens as ornamental flowers. You won't find them in mine. The story of the gardener is more than enough to deter me. The original headline was that he had merely brushed past the plant and the result was death, The reputation for the herb's toxicity is enough to convince me to keep my distance. ​

A few leavesin the salad,a few seedsin the soup,a thick rootto flavorthe stock--& it is all over.Let the lover bewarewho buys youfor love philters;the dose is deceptive.One pinch may lead to passionbut two will surely leadto death.Yet you twinklelittle blue bellat the edgeof the garden,wearing no warningabout your slim green neck.Wolfbane, Friar’s cap,Chariot of Venus--how many may claimto be poisonoushead to toe?That honor--Friar Death--belongs to you.